AFC Bournemouth
Spaniard Andoni Iraola has been appointed as the Cherries’ new head coach ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Becoming AFC Bournemouth’s first-ever head coach from outside of the UK and Ireland, the 40-year-old has previously overseen AEK Larnaca, CD Mirandés and Rayo Vallecano.
Iraola arrives following back-to-back campaigns in which he guided Vallecano to 12th place in La Liga in 2021/22 and 11th last season, impressing with his high intensity, attacking style of play.
Here’s are five things you might not have known about the Cherries’ new head coach…
1. Impressive playing career
Ahead of making the switch to coaching, Iraola enjoyed a strong playing career before retiring in 2017.
Born in the Basque region of Spain, the now-40-year-old played the majority of his career with Athletic Bilbao before seeing out his playing days with New York City.
Alongside 12 consecutive campaigns in La Liga, the Spaniard played in both the Champions League and Europa League – in which he finished a runner-up in 2011/12 – as well as making seven appearances for Spain.
2. Early silverware
A year on from hanging up his boots, Iraola took his first steps into management with Cypriot side AEK Larnaca.
In his tenth competitive fixture as manager of the side, the majority of which had been in Europa League qualifying, he guided the team to silverware.
A 5-2 victory over 14-time winners APOEL Nicosia saw Larnaca lift the Cypriot Super Cup, the first and only time ever in the club’s history.
The victory was Iraola’s sixth win of his first ten matches in charge, only one of which ended in defeat.
3. Europa League pedigree
Not only did the Spaniard achieve with Larnaca domestically, but he also oversaw success on the European stage.
Iraola guided the Guardians to the Europa League group stages for only the second time in their history following six qualifying fixtures.
In a group of FC Zürich, Ludogorets and Bayer Leverkusen, the Cypriot side finished third, bettering their 2011/12 group stage finish of fourth.
4. Two Copa del Rey semi-final appearances
The next stop for Iraola in his management career was CD Mirandés in the Spanish second division.
Despite being in the second tier, the coach guided his team to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, dispatching of higher-league opposition in Celta de Vigo, Sevilla and Villarreal before being narrowly beaten by Real Sociedad over two legs.
He then repeated the feat two seasons later, having moved to Rayo Vallecano after one campaign with Mirandés and then achieved promotion to La Liga in his first season via the play-offs.
The 2021/22 term then saw Vallecano reach the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, Iraola’s side again being seen out of the competition narrowly over two legs, the second time to Real Betis.
5. El Clásico double in 2022/23
While guiding Rayo Vallecano to an 11th-placed finish in La Liga during the 2022/23 campaign, his team achieved an impressive feat.
In November, the Red Sashes saw off reigning champions Real Madrid 3-2 at their Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas headquarters.
Vallecano then followed that victory up with a 2-1 win over eventual champions FC Barcelona, also on home turf, in April.
The victory against Xavi’s title-winning side, coupled with a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the campaign, ensured Vallecano went unbeaten against Barca last season.
